For once, villagers in Arunachal’s East Siang didn’t have to travel miles to get a government certificate — the government came to them.
On September 29, residents of Namsing Circle and surrounding areas under Mebo Sub-Division got something that rural communities across the Northeast rarely see — a full spread of government services, right at their doorstep. The venue was the Government Higher Secondary School in Borguli, and the occasion was a Seva Sankalp Abhiyan camp organised under a district-wide public outreach initiative in East Siang.
Think about what it usually takes for a villager here to get a Scheduled Tribe certificate or a Permanent Residence Certificate. The travel. The paperwork. The waiting. The frustration of going back a second or third time. That’s precisely what this camp tried to cut through.
Eligible beneficiaries were helped with applications for ST certificates, PRCs and birth certificates — documents that, for many rural families, are the very gateway to accessing any government welfare scheme. Aadhaar enrolment and corrections were also covered, along with information on health programmes, pension and insurance schemes, agricultural assistance, and bank account-related services. It was, in practical terms, a one-stop shop for things that normally demand days of running around.
Bapiyang Tayeng, Zilla Parishad Member representing Monggu Banggo-I, attended as the chief guest. Toimi Tagi, Circle Officer of Namsing, was also present. Officials from various departments under Mebo Sub-Division joined them, along with Gaon Burahs from Borguli and nearby villages, village heads, and representatives from both the People’s Party of Arunachal and the BJP. The camp had the feel of something that mattered to the people who showed up — not just an official checkbox exercise.
The entire initiative was set in motion by East Siang Deputy Commissioner Sonalika Jiwani, who issued an order on September 24 directing the district-wide rollout of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. The goal, as framed by the administration, aligns with the broader “Seva Aapke Dwar” philosophy — bringing services to people rather than making people hunt down services.
And Borguli was not the only village that saw activity that day. Parallel camps were held at Government Higher Secondary School, Sille, covering villages under the Sille-Oyan Circle in Ruksin Sub-Division, and at Government Higher Secondary School, Balek, near Pasighat, serving residents of the 38th Pasighat East Assembly Constituency. The same day, three different corners of the district — each camp doing the same quiet, essential work.
There’s something worth noting here. These camps don’t make for flashy headlines. No inauguration ribbon, no grand announcement. But for the elderly woman who finally gets her Aadhaar updated, or the young man who can now apply for a government scheme with the right certificates in hand, the difference is real and immediate. That’s what outreach at the ground level looks like when it’s done right.
The question now, of course, is whether this becomes a habit — or just a one-time push. East Siang’s district administration has laid down the groundwork. The villages are watching.
